River Adur at Botolphs and Steyning

A night cycle up the River Adur with Ingrid. We heard a Common Sandpiper upriver of the brickworks and were delighted to hear Nightingale at Steyning on our third attempt.

West Worthing, Brooklands Park, Widewater Lagoon, Adur Estuary, Upper Adur and Steyning

A home one of the Magpies nesting next door was collecting mud from beneath the leak in our pond filter.

Two Whimbrel flew along the beach at Brooklands Park.

At Widewater Lagoon, another Whimbrel was showing nicely with a female Bar-tailed Godwit, while an additional individual of the former species was heard, along with at least one Mediterranean Gull. A Little Egret shared the lagoon.

Bar-tailed Godwit (left) and Whimbrel at Widewater Lagoon

female Bar-tailed Godwit at Widewater Lagoon

Whimbrel at Widewater Lagoon

On the Adur Estuary we had three Little Egrets, two more Whimbrel, a Shelduck and two Oystercatchers.

North of the A27 bridge we heard two singing Lesser Whitethroats as we cycled along, and passed a Little Egret, a Yellowhammer and a Swallow.

Poor timing on my part meant we couldn't stay at Steyning Downland very long so dipped Nightingale again but a Cetti's Warbler was vocal and another Swallow skimmed overhead.

West Worthing, Brooklands Park, Widewater Lagoon, Adur Estuary, Steyning Rifle Range and The Downs

An uneventful watch at home featured the Blackcap, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Jackdaw and mating Herring Gulls (the same pair that were at it yesterday), while a Magpie was chasing Feral Pigeons.

A cycle late in the day saw a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Brooklands Park then at Widewater the Black-tailed Godwit, a Little Egret and two Sandwich Terns. Near the rifle range at Steyning, I found a Cetti's Warbler, a Swallow and a Willow Warbler. On the downs between Steyning and Sompting in the evening I heard two Barn Owls and two Tawny Owls and saw a Whitethroat, a Grey Partridge and a Buzzard.

Black-tailed Godwit at Widewater Lagoon

Grey Partridge on the downs

Steyning Downland

A walk through the downs to the Horseshoe Wood and back produced four Marsh Tits, including two in song, as well as two noisy Ravens, a singing Bullfinch, 31 Corn Buntings, two Yellowhammers, a Reed Bunting, six Meadow Pipits, three Skylarks and a Treecreeper. Two of four Goldcrests were in song.